Guide
DAFT: preparing to start a Dutch business
For US citizens considering self-employment under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT). Prepare the residence and business steps together. This guide does not provide immigration advice, and current requirements must come from the IND.
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Two separate tracks: residence and business
Starting a Dutch business and obtaining the right to live here as a self-employed person are two different processes:
- Residence: the IND decides whether you may live in the Netherlands and be self-employed, and under which conditions.
- Business: KVK registers your business in the Dutch Business Register, and the Belastingdienst handles VAT and taxes.
Both must be in order. A KVK registration on its own does not give you a residence or work right, and a permit does not remove your registration and tax obligations.
DAFT amounts and conditions: check with the IND
Requirements such as capital or investment thresholds, required documents and processing steps can change, and getting them wrong is expensive. We deliberately do not restate exact amounts. Read the current conditions on the IND page for the self-employed residence permit and, where relevant, consult an immigration lawyer.
Preparation checklist
- Read the IND page for self-employed residence permits and note the conditions that apply to your nationality and situation.
- Decide your legal structure — most solo founders use an eenmanszaak; a BV may be relevant depending on your plans.
- Prepare a clear description of your business activity and your intended clients.
- Arrange a Dutch address, and plan your municipal registration (BRP) so you can obtain a BSN.
- Prepare identification and any civil-status documents that may need legalisation or translation.
- Plan your business bank account and bookkeeping, including how you will evidence business funds.
- Map the timing: which step must happen first in your case, and what depends on your BSN.
- Where the answer is unclear, ask the IND or a qualified immigration advisor rather than a forum.
After you are set up
Once registered, the practical work is the same as for any Dutch entrepreneur: VAT returns, bookkeeping, invoicing, insurance and contracts. See how to start a business in the Netherlands for the full flow, the KVK checklist for registration prep, and business support if you are already registered.
What StartDutchBusiness.nl can help with
We turn the official steps into a personalized, beginner-friendly checklist for your situation — your nationality and residence status, your activity, and the structure that fits. We do not register your business for you and we are not KVK, the Belastingdienst or the IND.
Explore assisted services, all guides or the FAQ.
Official sources
Always confirm current rules and steps directly with the official Dutch authorities.
This page is general guidance only and is not legal, tax, accounting or immigration advice. StartDutchBusiness.nl is an independent guidance platform — not an official government website, not KVK, not the Belastingdienst, not the IND, and not a registration intermediary. For decisions that depend on your personal situation, check the official sources above or speak with a qualified advisor. See our disclaimer.